RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16299, 24 August 1918, Page 9

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

WHOLESALE ARRESTS IN MOSCOW. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (United Service.) COPENHAGEN, August 22. The "Frankfort Gazette" sajo that the Soviet Government arrested 10,000 oiiicers in Moscow and held them as hostages. Altogether about 60,000 oflicers havo been arrested throughout Russia. A great number of the upper classes of Moscow have also been arrested on the ground of necessity in order to suppress the counter-revolution. THE BREST-LITOVSK TREATY. AMSTERDAM, August 21. In his address to tho German Society, Dr. Solf, referring to the Brest-Litovsk negotiations, said that these wero undertaken with Russia's agreement. Germany felt bound during the transition period to protect the border peoples, but would recognise the principle of self-determination when tho time was ripe and the people ready to assume control. AMERICA'S INTERESTS AT PETROGItAD. . WASHINGTON, August 22. Owing to tho Bolsheviks' declaration of war against the Allies, the United States has handed over to Norway its diplomatic affairs at Petrograd. STRENGTH OF ENEMY FORCES. (United Service.) TOKIO, August 22. The War Office announces that an enemy forco eastward of Sunaiov (?) now totals 80,000. The enemy is arming reinforcements with machine-guns on the Usuri river. Four enemy steamers at Lake Kenka apparently intended to land men at Spaskoys (?), thirty miles from the Japanese front line, which would necessitate the withdrawal of the Japanese right wing. Thoro are about 17,000 enemy troops in tho Amur area, 80,000 at Baikal, and 3500 in the Urals. 300 CZECHOSLOVAKS HANGED. (Router's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM, August 23. According to n German source tho Red Guards, upon capturing Simbirsk, publicly hanged in tho market place 300 Czecho-Slovaks. The "Weser Zeitung" learns from Archangel that Petapoff, commander-in-chief of tlio Rod Army in Murman, was caught by peasants when fleeing and handed over to tho British

AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN. THE COAL SHORTAGE. . (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyris*" - ' (United Service.) LONDON, August 22. Tho "Daily Telegraph" says that the War Cabinet will probably appoint a small committee of representative miners and coal owners, including Mr W. Brace, Under-Secretary to ; ne Home Office, and Mr S. Walsh, Parliamentary Secretary to tho Local Government Board, to consider proposals for increasing the output. Mr Walsh, in an interview, advocates joint propaganda on coalfields Dy miners and owners speaking frym the same platform, to impress the urgencv of increasing the output and miners' personal responsibility. The propaganda should continue until the grave crisis had passed. Absenteeism, Mr Walsh said, was tho chief cause or the fall in tho output. Twenty thousand coal workers in !he Rotherham district struck yesterdav, pending a settlement of tho dispute In connexion with the surfacemen's wages award. It is expected, that the strike will extend to the majority of tho Yorkshire pits to-day. LONDON, August 22. The Minister of Reconstruction says that tho Coal Conservation Committee appointed in 1916 recommends the establishment of a Ministry of Mines, with a Minister with statutory powers to take steps for the conservation of coal. It should undertake comprehensive co-operative schemes. THE DYE INDUSTRY. LONDON, August 22. Despite* the opposition of tho chairman, five directors of British Dyes, Limited, decided to amalgamate with Levinstein's. The Board of Trade advocated tho amalgamation with the view of securing increased efficiency by tho combination of the two great dye producers of the country. BUS EMPLOYEES RESUMING WORK. (Received August 24th, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. The tram and bus strikers are resuming work to-morrow.